New Delhi
The Center on Thursday notified the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, after receiving the President’s assent on April 9, 2026. The legislative department of the Ministry of Law and Justice issued the gazette notification.
The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha on April 2 and the Rajya Sabha on April 1, amid opposition from opposition leaders, who said it would break the morale of cadre officers. On Thursday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi issued a statement on the Day of Courage organized by the CRPF objecting to the new bill (a statement issued before the notification was issued), and promised to end the discriminatory system if his government comes to power.
The Act creates a uniform legal framework for all five Indian police forces and codifies the mandate of Indian Police Service (IPS) officers at senior levels. CAPF associations have long opposed this practice and approached the Supreme Court, which on May 23, 2025, directed the government to “gradually reduce” the mandate of the IRS.
However, the government maintained that PPS officers were essential for effective functioning and central-state coordination. The draft law proposes that 67% of the additional director-general positions and 50% of the inspector-general positions be occupied by seconded Prison Service employees, while all the positions of the special director-general and the director-general will be reserved for them. It also stipulates that the rules set forth in this law will supersede any inconsistent provisions.
On Thursday afternoon, former CAPF personnel and their families under the banner of Former Paramilitary Welfare Association organized a silent alliance in Rajghat. The alliance said in a statement that if the government does not invite a delegation of former officers for talks, the former employees, their families and widows will march from India Gate to Rashtrapati Bhawan on June 15, 2026. The alliance is an umbrella body for retired CAPF personnel.
The government had said in its statement of purpose and reason for the bill that the lack of a comprehensive law had caused regulatory provisions to develop in a fragmented manner, leading to numerous service-related lawsuits and causing functional and administrative difficulties.
“In view of the nature and purposes of the Central Armed Police Forces and to avoid unnecessary litigation, there is a need to frame a comprehensive law to regulate the recruitment, authorization, promotion and other conditions of services of Group A Public Service Officers and other officers appointed to these Central Armed Police Forces and other rules relating to these forces, to ensure legislative clarity, maintain their distinct operational and functional requirements and harmonize judicial directions with administrative and federal requirements,” it said.
While emphasizing the nature of work of CAPF and the importance of IPS officers, the bill said – IPS officers are essential for effective working and coordination between the Center and the State. “The Central Armed Police Forces shall perform national security functions in close coordination with the State authorities; in order to maintain the Central-State relationship and ensure close coordination between the Union and the States, officers of the Indian Police Service are essential for the effective functioning of these forces,” the statement of object and reasons of the bill said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the issues of CAPF personnel as a matter of justice and dignity, not just career advancement, while promising an end to the discriminatory system and thus CAPF personnel getting their full rights if his party comes to power.
